Gazoo heads to the N"urburgring with Lexus LFA Code X

Tue, 14 Jan 2014

You'd be forgiven for thinking just because the Lexus LFA has ended its production run (it's been over a year now) that Toyota would have ceased its development. You'd be forgiven, but Gazoo Racing is here to tell you you'd still be wrong.

One of Toyota's many works racing teams, Gazoo is returning to the 24-hour endurance race at the Nürburgring this year with a trio of entries. One is based on the Toyota GT86 (which we know as the Scion FR-S), and one is essentially the same LFA that it's entered in years past. But the third vehicle is dubbed Code X.

It's also based on the LFA, but its 4.8-liter V10 engine has been bored out to 5.3 liters, raising its output to untold levels. It's got a full carbon-fiber chassis and a range of other enhancements that Gazoo isn't telling us about just yet, but they should turn the LFA Code X from a road-going supercar beyond a racecar and into a rolling research lab. Considering that Gazoo has been racing at the 'Ring since 2007 and fielding versions of the LFA there since 2008, it'll be interesting to see how the Code X version fares.

Lexus LFA and Toyota 86 to Compete in 2014 Nürburgring Endurance Race
LFA-based Research Vehicle Added to Study Future Sports Car Technologies

Toyota City, Japan (Jan. 10, 2014) - Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) announces that its GAZOO Racing team will enter three vehicles in the 42nd 24 Hours Nürburgring endurance race to be held in Germany from June 19 through June 22: race versions of the Lexus LFA and Toyota 86, and a new enhanced sports car research vehicle based on the LFA, the GAZOO Racing Lexus LFA Code X.

The GAZOO Racing Lexus LFA Code X has been created to enable study of future sports car technologies. Compared to the LFA's base 4.8-liter V10 engine, the research vehicle's engine displacement has been increased to 5.3 liters and system output and torque has been fine-tuned to better suit the Nürburgring course. Other enhancements include a full carbon frame body to enhance body-rigidity while reducing vehicle weight.

The GAZOO Racing team has been competing in the 24 Hours Nürburgring endurance race since 2007. By providing its own engineers and technicians for race team support, Toyota aims for the race to serve as an opportunity to cultivate "automotive seasoning" personnel able to develop ever-better vehicles for the market.

By Noah Joseph